but, I've been seriously thinking about our first trip back to the World.
And by first trip, I mean, a lot of firsts. First trip after mom's passing, first trip for the baby...for those of you who follow Tink(erbellarella)'s PTRs, you'll know that she's doing the Princess 1/2 marathon in the end of February, and that my goal is to get down there, even if only for a couple of days, just see her cross that finish line.
She's running in honor of my mom, inspired by how my mom lived her life, and plans to make a donation to the American Heart Association upon her completion of the Princess 1/2. So I know that the first time I go back will most likely be with Tink. And that's kind of fitting as well. Since she and I have some tentative plans to go a lot of places I just went with Mom in January (and I'm really looking forward to, truly), I'd rather have the emotional breakdown in front of my best girlfriend than my children. I don't plan to visit a park on this trip, with the exception of seeing Tink cross that finish line. I'm going to focus solely on the resorts and just spending time with my dear friend, making it a really budget conscious endeavor.
So that, hopefully, will be my first trip back.
But my first trip ever as the four of us? Well, that's a whole other ball of wax. And a ball of wax that I've been shaping and molding and reshaping and remolding and basically turning into mush.
I've made several spreadsheets and I have a lot of different ideas.
Eventually, I think I'll take this post and make a PTR. I'd promised myself I wouldn't start one until this was finished, but I have so many ideas floating around that I really want to pick some DIS brain, so to speak.
Let me start by saying first, money is not a concern.
I know. I just said it. Ms. Financial OverAnalyzation just laid down the trump card. And although it pains me slightly when I look at the actual numbers on my spreadsheet and think, OMG, I'm going to spend THAT much on one trip, I'm really of the firm belief that this should be the cool as all get out, do it in style, splurge vacation. Quite frankly, I'm not even going to quote you price. We're going to base all these decisions on gut and emotion. Not good when you're 35 weeks pregnant, but it'll do.
My ideas are based on the concept of free dining v. the summer room rate.
I'd like to take a trip at the end of September 2011. It's possible that we'll buy annual passes, or upgrade whatever passes to annuals so that we can go a little bit earlier in September 2012 and really get our use out of them.
I have looked at DVC. I'm not sure how I feel about paying those annual dues, and about how I would feel not to be able to participate in promotions any more, like free dining or room rates, etc. I'm still in the research phase of this concept, but one of the thoughts for a hotel has been....
the Contemporary.
And let me tell you, this wasn't my top choice, but it's starting to grow on me. So let me tell you who the big spender in my family is: DH. It's going to be our first time with the baby, who at that point will be a little over a year. Long story short, he'll be in a stroller. My DH is in love with the idea of being on the monorail. Of us not having to struggle to carry the various paraphenalia and two tired children.
Let me tell you, I can see his point.
So you say, okay, Kat, what's so hard? You like the Contemporary. And when given the choice of which monorail resort he'd like to stay at, DH picked this one. I've stayed there before, but he never has. And so for him, and my boys, it would be totally new. And quite frankly, I can't truly remember the last time I was there. I'm almost positive my Granddad was still with us, so it would have been over 17 years ago.
Well, now let's talk room catergories. There's the idea of staying in a one bedroom at BLT. One of the reasons I like the idea of staying in a DVC room is to get a feel for what DVC is like. To have the concept of having the kiddos in one room and us in another, to be able to put them to sleep and for DH and I to be able to watch TV as late as we'd like. This is an interesting concept to me, and one that I feel bears further scrutiny. It's a different style of vacation. I'd probably order from Garden Grocer, or one of those services and stock the kitchen so we'd at least be doing breakfast in the rooms, and in the long run, this might save a little money.
Then there's my other thought about staying in the Tower. Because if you're going to stay in the Contemporary, why not stay in the main building so that if it really is pouring outside, you don't have to leave to walk to your room, you're just right inside.
Now, if you're going to stay in the Tower, the next question becomes, do you want to pay extra to have a nice view? Because you can, you know. Pay to have the privilege of viewing the Magic Kingdom when you wake up every morning, and most likely fireworks at night. That's kind of a nice thought, but something I wouldn't really decide until we actually get to the booking process.
And really, if you're going to throw down that kind of money, why not stay Club Level? I can see the benefit of this (by far I think the most expensive option). Breakfast, snacks throughout the day, wine, cordials, desserts at night. It'll be easy to get the kiddos fed before we head to the parks, and if DH wants to be up later than the rest of us, he can always hang in the Atrium Club Lounge.
And then, of course, there's your regular standard view in the garden wing. By far, the least expensive, and still, quite wonderful option. One of the reasons I love the rooms at the Contemporary (and certain other deluxe hotels) is that they come with two queens and a day bed. That is absolute heaven to me. It means that I can request a pack and play for the baby, and every single person in my family has their own bed.
Will they stay in them? Who knows, but at least the option is there!
In this particular scenario, and the next I'm about to describe, we'd be hoping for a summer or AP room rate similar to the one they have this year, which gives you about 40-45% off.
My next favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. I love that hotel. I'm in love with that hotel. Its only drawback to me is that it doesn't have a day bed, so if we're in a standard room, one or both of the kids is ending up with me or my husband depending on how it goes. We've still got the possibilities of staying Club Level here, and we've got the option of the boat to the Magic Kingdom, or a really quick bus ride. And the bus system at the WL has always been wonderful when we've stayed there. They rarely share with any other hotel, which is dissimilar to the Contemporary.
One of the reasons I love the Wilderness Lodge is because of its interior corridors. You're never walking in the rain to get to the food court to refill your mug, savvy? In some of my other scenarios, I know this is not an issue, but it's something to think about, because of how much we do love WL. There's the option of staying in a standard room, staying Club Level, or staying in a villa, similar to my choices at the Contemporary. It's more, however, the overall feel of this resort that makes me love it so much. The relaxing, homey, you are here feeling.
I can remember walking into that place on our Pirates Life for Three trip and just breathing a sigh of relief, like finally. Finally, home.
My last choice is completely different. It's based on the lack of a special room rate and the offer of free dining.
And that's the Caribbean Beach Resort.
Which I'm in love with. Totally smitten. It's so relaxing and yet so pirate all at the same time. I love the individual villages, the quiet pools and beaches, the overall feel of the resort.
I do not love that the beds are only doubles, and that pretty much with all certainty, someone's going to be "sleeping in my bed" as Goldilocks so aptly put it.
But for a moderate resort, this is my top pick. It is not, however, a favorite of my DH. He's not a fan of having to stop at every single village when you're leaving, and I could see how on a crowded bus, later at night, with a stroller and two kids, this could be kind of a nightmare, and maybe something we should save for when the boys are older.
So, there you have it. What I work on in my spare time. The overall picture of what I think we might like to do.
And I welcome you to weigh in with any thoughts or opinions you may have, anything I haven't thought of, any personal experiences.
It's just time to get this out of my head and onto paper.
Next Chapter
GO FOR IT!!!
WL...but with the baby that age, BLT wins for me.
